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Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. "SEARCH"

Principal Investigator (Terrestrial Archaeology - Guam)

Barrigada , Guam
full-time On-site

AI overview

Manage archaeological fieldwork and monitor compliance with preservation laws while enhancing team efficiency and technical writing quality across varied projects.

Title: Principal Investigator         
Location: Guam     
Job Code: Guam_PI_2026         
Job Link: SEARCH Job Postings - Direct Applications          

Position Information

SEARCH has an immediate opening for a Full-Time Principal Investigator to join our Guam office team. Candidates must be based in/relocate to Guam and report to the local office. The responsibilities include fieldwork (e.g., archaeological monitoring and excavation), research, lab, and report preparation tasks.  The duties include ensuring fieldwork is executed in a timely fashion and meets the applicable standards; writing high quality technical reports; oversight of junior field staff; and coordinating the development of project Health & Safety plans.  The candidate should be detail-oriented and organized, work well with others, and be able to work efficiently on simultaneous projects under tight deadlines.  Excellent verbal and written communication, the ability to work autonomously and in a team environment, and the ability to travel are critical to the position.  In particular, this position may require extensive archaeological monitoring on Guam and other locations.

Successful candidates will have a background in cultural resource management and experience managing archaeological fieldwork. The candidate will have excellent technical writing skills and the ability to produce reports for review by subject matter experts on behalf of federal, state, and tribal agencies under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, among other historic preservation laws/regulations.

SEARCH provides a flexible work environment, a professional and collaborative atmosphere, and a wide range of projects and opportunities for our staff. SEARCH offers a competitive total compensation package with strong health and wellness and retirement plans. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, group term life insurance, 401(k) plan with match, 11 paid holidays per year, and Unlimited paid time off (PTO). Pay is commensurate with education and experience.               


Key Responsibilities:

  • Maintain the highest professional image for our clients, co-workers, media, and general public. 
  • Participate in decision-making regarding research priorities of company and provide information on feasibility of prospective projects.  
  • Develop business/client relationships for SEARCH. 
  • Develop SEARCH procedures and protocol related to field methods, lab analyses, and report preparation. 
  • Prepare proposals for review by Sector Leaders and Management. 
  • Develop research designs, outline research procedures to be followed, and identify and/or provide training to junior staff to carry out research. 
  • Plan and manage fieldwork, data analysis, and reporting efforts in accordance with project Scope of Work, budget, and schedule. 
  • Develop thoroughly researched, comprehensive, and defensible resource evaluations according to the National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria in accordance with 36 CFR §60.4 and associated National Park Service guidance. 
  • Support Project Managers in the delivery of projects on time and under budget. 
  • In conjunction with the SEARCH Health & Safety Officer, develop a Health & Safety plan for each assigned project and ensure that it is followed. 
  • Communicate project resource needs to Project Managers, Sector Leaders, Directors, and Management, as warranted. 
  • Conduct primary research using laboratory equipment, computer resources, and institutional libraries. 
  • Provide expertise in field of research to SEARCH colleagues. 
  • Prepare reports and papers of completed projects for publication in technical journals, presentation to regulatory agencies or at conferences, or use in further research activities, with approval by the Client and SEARCH Management. 
  • Other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications Required:

  • Graduate degree in Anthropology or related field.
  • Based in/relocating to Guam by hire date. 
  • Experience with conducting archaeology in Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, and/or other regional pacific islands.
  • Supervisory experience encompassing time in field, laboratory, and office.
  • Must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualifications standards for archaeology and be an RPA or be eligible to become an RPA.
  • Eligible for obtaining military base access passes.
  • Expertise in state and federal laws and guidelines governing cultural resources management.
  • Demonstrated ability to support projects in a timely and cost-effective manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage cultural resource studies in a timely and cost-effective manner.
  • Demonstrated client management skills.
  • Superior technical writing skillset to produce high quality technical reports and to prepare awardable proposals.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.


Qualifications Preferred:

  • Understanding of the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) industry (firms, clients, contracts, new research, and projects) at the statewide, regionwide, nationwide, and worldwide level.
  • Five+ (5) years of supervisory experience encompassing time in field, laboratory, and office.
  • Strong regional (pacific islands) archaeological experience.


Application Requirements:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • References
  • Two writing samples


Other Important Need-to-Know Information:

  • This position may require up to 60% field exposure during peak project periods. Field work will include harsh environmental conditions associated with working in the region (e.g. rugged steep terrain, thick jungle vegetation, torrential rainstorms, high temperatures and humidity).
  • This position will require flexible availability outside of standard working hours.
  • Applicants must be eligible to be employed in the United States.
  • SEARCH is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.
  • SEARCH is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
  • SEARCH is an Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.
  • Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory verification of criminal, education, driving, and/or employment background checks as well as passing results from a pre-employment drug screen.
  • We will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known limitations of a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or, if requested, to participate in an interview, please let us know.

Benefits

SEARCH Compensation and Benefits include:

  • Competitive Salary
  • Per Diem (for overnight travel)
  • SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage)
  • SEARCH-provided Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • SEARCH-provided Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • SEARCH-provided Group Term Life Insurance
  • Voluntary Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Emergency Travel Assistance
  • Generous 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Paid Holidays (11)
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions


About SEARCH:

Overland and underwater, SEARCH is an archaeology firm that deploys the full spectrum of cultural heritage services worldwide. SEARCH2O, its maritime program, is at the forefront of historic shipwreck and submerged pre-contact archaeology, paleolandscape reconstruction, and deep-water archaeology. SEARCH’s staff are cultural resources industry leaders, pioneers, and subject matter experts across 45 Market, Regional, and Research Sectors. Since 1993, SEARCH has completed more than 5,000 commercial and government projects in 48 US states, 6 US territories, and 39 countries spanning 7 continents and 4 oceans. By integrating science, technology, and creativity, SEARCH harnesses the power of the past to advance the projects, places, and people it serves. 

For more information about SEARCH, please visit searchinc.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.      

Please send inquiries about the position to [email protected]. Include the Job Posting code (Guam_PI_2026) in the subject line of your email.

Perks & Benefits Extracted with AI

  • Health Insurance: SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage)
  • Other Benefit: Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions
  • Paid Time Off: Paid Holidays (11)
Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. "SEARCH"

SEARCH is at the forefront of the Cultural Resources Management industry, and we continuously seek top talent. We have high expectations for ourselves, our staff, and our company. A career with SEARCH likely will be more challenging and more demanding than your previous job. We strive for the best out of our people, and we encourage you to apply if you can deliver consistently great work with an optimistic and positive attitude. If you believe that you are among the finest at what you do, then we encourage you to apply to work with us and enjoy a career that is professionally and personally rewarding (and fun). To help you decide whether SEARCH is a good fit for you, we’ve listed a few of the values which are important to us: 1. Expertise – We are subject matter experts. Our staff members are in command of the current research, methods, and best practices of their discipline, as well as the laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and protocols that affect their field. 2. Passion – We eat, sleep, and breathe cultural resources management. We work hard and we enjoy the rewards of hard work. We come in early if need be, and we stay late because we love what we do (and because of an occasional deadline). Often many of us are active in our field in our own personal time because CRM is in our blood. 3. Teamwork – We communicate well and often. We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals, and we work best when we collaborate and share ideas within our immediate teams and enterprise wide. 4. Improvement – We continually strive forward and don’t settle. We are constantly improving our own work, our processes, and our products, and we embrace new ideas that make us better. Never do we say, “It’s good enough” or “It’s only a draft.” 5. Perfection, please – Attention to detail matters to us. We are looking for people who consistently deliver superior work products and who carefully craft every field note, e-mail, letter, agenda, map, photo, table, computer file name, and multi-volume technical report. SEARCH’s excellent reputation is based on our delivery of outstanding work, and we take this very seriously.6. “Please” perfection – Manners matter to us. We are looking for people who are in command of social graces. Opening the door opens doors. We offer a great benefits package to those who come aboard with us! SEARCH compensation and benefits include: Competitive Salary Per Diem (for overnight travel) SEARCH-subsidized Group Health Insurance (including Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage) SEARCH-provided Short-Term Disability Insurance SEARCH-provided Long-Term Disability Insurance SEARCH-provided Group Term Life Insurance Voluntary Life Insurance Generous 401(k) Retirement Plan Paid Holidays (10) Paid Time Off (PTO) Employee Assistance Program Emergency Travel Assistance Merit-Based Raises, Bonuses, and Promotions We conduct pre-employment drug testing, DMV check, and criminal background check. We treat all employment inquiries confidentially. Reliable transportation is required for all positions. For more information, please visit www.searchinc.com SEARCH is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. SEARCH is an Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. SEARCH will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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